Elevator mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. if

A. RANCOU RT ELEVATOR MECHANISM Aug 25, 1953 A. RANCOURT 2,649,934

ELEVATOR MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug.25, ,1953

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE ELEVATOR MECHANISM Alphonse Rancourt,Pittslield, Mass.

Application February 12, 1952, Serial No. 271,096

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to elevator mechanism and is directed moreparticularly to leveling apparatus for elevators.

The principal object of the invention is directed to the provision ofnovel apparatus for leveling an elevator with a floor at which it isstopped to take on or let 01T passengers or freight.

The novel features of the invention are accomplished by the provision ofmeans between the hoist cable and elevator which is automaticallyadjusted to level the floor of the elevator with the floor at which theelevator is stopped.

All of the above objects I accomplish by means of such structure andrelative arrangements of parts thereof, as will fully appear by aperusal of the description below and by various specific features whichwill be hereinafter set forth.

To the above cited and other ends and with the foregoing and variousother novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention aswill become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, myinvention consists in certain novel features of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of parts as Will be hereinafter moreparticularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fullydescribed and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of elevator leveling apparatus shown incombination with the cross head of an elevator;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the apparatus shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram to explain the operation of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will befully described.

The crosshead of an elevator is shown at 2 which extends across theelevator shaft and may include a pair of channels or I beams 4. Theseare secured together by any suitable means such as a plate 6. Shoes,such as 8, are fixed to opposite ends of the crosshead which slidablyreceive the usual vertically disposed rails Ii) at opposite sides of theelevator shaft for up and down movements of the elevator.

Hangers I2 which are in the form of inverted Us have spaced side arms I4 fixed to the channels 2 and upper end or intermediate portions I6.

Closed cylinders I8 have upper ends xed to portions I6 of the hangersand depend between the side arms I4 of said hangers.

Pistons 2U are reciprocable in the cylinders I8 and have rods 22depending therefrom which are secured to and support a plate 24. Cables2 26 extend through the plate 24 and have the usual cable sockets 28 onlower ends thereof below the plate 24.

Liquid or the like such as oil is supplied the cylinders at the upperends thereof as will later be described. With liquid in upper ends ofthe cylinder above the pistons, the elevator is supported from the cableand plate through the piston and cylinders.

A tank T for liquid is supported at 30 by the plate 6. A motor M and apump P are also supported by said plate.

A valve 32 has a piston 34 reciprocable therein which has a channel 36in a side thereof for connecting pipes in one of its positions. A rod 36extends from the piston through an end of the valve and is connected tothe armature 58 of a solenoid 40. A spring 42 urges the `piston to theclosed position shown in Fig. l.

When the solenoid 40 is energized, the piston is moved to the right toconnect the pipes as aforesaid. When de-energized, the piston isreturned to the position shown.

A pipe 44 extends from tank T to the pump P and a pipe 46 having apressure relief valve 48 therein extends from the pump P to a branch 58connected to the valve 32 and from said branch to connections 52entering the upper side of the cylinders. A check valve 56 is providedin pipe 46.

A return pipe 56 extends from valve 32 to the tank and has a flowcontrol Valve 58 which may be a needle valve therein.

The motor M and pump P are connected by a shaft 58 so that when themotor is in operation, liquid is pumped from the tank through pipe 46 tothe cylinders.

The cables 26 which are engaged with a drum or drums driven by anelectric motor or motors as a power source support the plate 24. Thepistons 2D in cylinders I8 through liquid between the upper sides of thepistons and cylinder support the crosshead which in turn supports theelevator cab or car.

If liquid in the cylinders above the pistons is released the crossheadand car move downwardly relative to plate 24. If liquid is pumped intothe cylinder, the cylinders move upwardly relative to the pistons andthe crosshead and car move upwardly relative to the plate.

Apparatus to be described controls the motor and valve 32 when theelevator stops at a licor to force liquid into the cylinder or allow itto be displaced therefrom so that the car floor is leveled with thelicor. When the car 3 is stopped at a iioor its leveling is lcontrolledby leveling means indicated by L.

As the elevator is ascending or descending, the relation of the car andplate 24 and thereby the pistons and cylinders are under the control ofcentering means indicated by C and means is provided for transferringcontrol between the leveling and centering means.

It is desired that the relative levels of the crosshead and supportingplate 2lil be maintained during operation of the elevator up and down inorder that the leveling apparatus may operat when the elevator stops ata floor. l

A cam 60 is fixed to a plate 62 secured. to onev rail I and has upperand lower cam surfaces 64 and 66.

Bracket means 68 securedto the. shoe 8. carries an upper descendingswitch T2E and` a lower' ascending switch 14.

These switches have horizontally reciprocable members for engaging. apair of contacts as shown in Fig. 3.- As outer ends ofv the switch.members move outwardly when riding over the inclinedca-m faces,y theswitch' contacts are engaged. Springs urge the movable members outwardlyand resist inwardmovements thereof. These switches constitute. parts of.the leveling. means.

Other switches such as an upper descending switch 'i6 and a lowerascending switch i3 which are similar to the switches lli. and. lli arecarried by the crosshead and are arranged. for operation similarly tothe aforesaid switches by a camv 8B". which. is secured to plate 2d by abracket 82. This. cam. 8U has. inclined cam; faces iii-i and 36, similarto cam. 60.

Solenoid all for operating the valve piston is connected by 88. to oneside 9G of. a power line and. by 92 to a. connection. 9'4 between oneContact each of the switches 'l2 and 'l-8`..

A. connection Q6 extends from the other contact of switch '[2 to acontact 98 of a changeover relay IMJ.. The other contact of switch 'E6'is connected by m2 to a contact its of said. relay lili). Arms H16 andvma of relay it@ are connectedby l lll andA H2 to the other side l lli cfthe power line..

Relay l'lwI is connected by H5l to the electrical circuits off the powersource for. the. elevator motor and isY arranged. whereby driving upanddown movements of the elevator the arms. of the relay are held intheposition shown. When. the. power is shut olf trom the power source forthe. eleva-- tor the arms swing clockwise and engage other contacts..

A- connection l i8 extends from one ot. the contactsof each of theVswitches la and. 'i8 and aconnection |29 extends from motor lVLtoconnection H8.. The other side of. motor M. is. connected by l'2-2. tosupply line 9U.

Other contacts of switches lli. and 'i8 are connected by lines [2s and22s'V to contacts $2.8 and I3@ of relay Hill.

As the elevator ascends and descends andA with the arms of the relaypositioned. as showin. and described, whenever there is any change. inrelation of the plate 24. and elevator or erosshead one ofthe switches'i6 or 'i8 is operated either to open valve 32. and release liquid. fromthe cylinders or to energize the motor for the pumping of liquid intothe cylinders.

It is desired to maintain the pistonsi8 intermediate upper and lowerends of the cylinders thereby to allow the leveling mechanism tovoperate when. the elevator is stopped. at a oor and it is necessary tolevel the car..

When the elevator is stopped at a floor and when the relay isde-energized, the arms swing to make contacts 98 and B28 so that themotor and solenoid are under the control of switches l2 and 14.

If the level of the floor of the car is above the floor at which the caris stopped, switch l2 makes its contacts so that the solenoid isenergized to shift piston 34. In this shifted position of the piston,flui'd flows from the cylinders back to the tank and when the levelinghas taken place, switch l2 is opened and piston 3s is moved to the leftto prevent displacement of liquid from the cylinders.

It the car stops below the level of the floor, switch 'M makes contactto energize the motor so that liquid is pumped into the cylinders toelevate the cylinders' and thereby the car. As the car isl leveled, theswitch 'M is opened.

The invention may be embodied in other speciiic. forms without departingfrom the essential characteristics' thereof. Hence, the presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely asbeing illustrative and. not as being. restrictive, thev scope ot theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforegoing description, and all modifications and variations as fallwithin the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appendedclaims are therefore intended. to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patents of theUnitedStates is:

1. Mechanism for adjusting the supporting cables and crosshead of an`elevator for leveling the floor thereof comprising in combination, asupporting plate supported by said cables,y adjustable means betweensaid plate and crosshead adapted to maintain predeterminedv relativelevels of said crosshead and plate during up and down movementsthereof', operating means for said adjustable means, centering means forcontrolling said operating means as said plate moves upand down,leveling means for controlling said operating means as said plate is inrest position, and means for transferring the control of said operatingmeans between said centeringand levelling means accordingly as the plateis moving up and down or is at rest, said adjustable means including apiston secured. to said crosshead and a cylinder reciprocable thereinsecured to said plate, said. operating means including a motor drivenpump and connections including a change over valve between said.cylinder and a pump arranged whereby liquid may be displaced from ordelivered. to said. cylinder, said. centering means including a cam onsaid. supporting plate and. circuit closing switches on said crossheadand a source of power with connections between said switches, source ofpower and motor driven pump, said. leveling means including. circuitclosing switches onY said crosshead operable by a stationary cam andconnections between said switches, source of power andv valve and motordriven pump.

2. Mechanism. for adjusting the supporting cables and crosshead of anelevator for leveling the floor thereof comprising in con'ibinationY asupporting plate supported by said cab-les, adjust-- able means betweensaid plate and crosshead adapted to maintain predetermined relativelevels of said crosshead and plate during up and down movements thereof,operating means for said adjustable means, centering` means iorcontrolling said operating means as said plate moves and down, leveling.means for controlling saidI operating means as said plate is in restposition, and means for transferring the control of said operating meansbetween said centering and leveling means accordingly as the plate ismoving up and down or is at rest, said adjustable means including apiston secured to said crosshead and a cylinder reciprocable thereinsecured to said plate, said operating means including a motor drivenpump and connections including a change over valve between said cylinderand a pump arranged whereby liquid may be displaced from or delivered tosaid cylinder, said centering means including a cam on said supportingplate and circuit closing switches on said crosshead and a source ofpower with connections between said switches, source of power and motordriven pump,

6 said leveling means including circuit closing switches on saidcrosshead operable by a stationary cam and connections between saidswitches, source of power and Valve and motor driven pump, said meansfor transferring the control of said operating means between saidcentering and leveling means including electrically operated circuit andan opening and closing relay in the said connections.

ALPHONSE RANCGURT.

References Cited n the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,569,184 Baker May 8, 1928 1,682,142 Baker Aug. 28, 1928

